Combination washer-wiper for glass louvers



Oct. 25, 1960 F. J. STARK COMBINATION WASHER-WIPER FOR GLASS LOUVERS Filed March 3, 1959 INVENTOR. FRANK J. STARK BY AT TORNEY United States Patent COMBINATION WASHER-WIPER FOR GLASS LOUVERS Frank J. Stark, 3576 NW. 10211.1 St., Miami, Fla.

Filed Mar. 3, 1959, Ser'. No. 796,985

4 Claims. (c1. 1s-121) My invention relates to window cleaning implements and is directed more specifically to a tool for cleaning the glass louvers of jalousie windows.

Jalousie windows, because they are usually used with inside screens, ordinarily have to be cleaned from the outside of the house. Because of their close spacing proper cleaning of both sides of the glass louvers from one side of the window is difi'icult and time-consuming when done by ordinary methods, such as by wiping with cloths, sponges, squeegees and the like.

It is accordingly the principal object of my invention to provide an improved cleaning implement for jalousie windows that will simultaneously wash and wipe both sides of a glass louver from one side of a jalousie window in a single operation, thereby accomplishing a window cleaning job in a fraction of the time required by the use of ordinary methods and tools.

A more particular object of my invention is to provide a jalousie window cleaning implement of the character described which combines a sponge element and a squeegee wiper element secured along each arm of a scissors-like frame structure adapted to be drawn along the length of a glass louver, the sponge elements being operative to wash and wet the glass at each side in advance of the wiper, and at the same time to catch and absorb excess water wiped by the squeegee wipers.

Another object of my invention is to provide a cleaning implement of the above nature wherein the sponge elements are readily replaceable when they become Worn or inefiicient in operation.

Other objects, features and advantages of my invention will be apparent from the following description when read with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, wherein like reference numerals denote corresponding parts throughout the several views;

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a jalousie window cleaning implement embodying the invention,

Fig. 2 is an end view of the cleaning implement shown in Fig. 1, facing the cleaning arms and with the implement in closed position as when cleaning a glass louver.

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the cleaning arms shown in position for cleaning along the length of a glass louver, and

Fig. 4 is a plan view of cleaning implement, shown in closed position, portions of the handles being broken away.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals denote coresponding parts throughout the several views, the numeral designates my jalousie window cleaning implement generally, the same comprising a pair of complementary, scissor-like members 11 pivotally joined at their crossing point as by a pivot screw 12. Each of the scissor-like members 11 comprises a frame element 13, which may be of either flat steel stock or molded of synthetic plastic material, for example, and which, as best illustrated best in Fig. 4, is bent at the 2,957,190 Patented Oct. 25, 1960 crossing zone to provide off-set handle end portions 14 and carriage end portions 15. The handle end portions of the frame elements 13 are each fitted with a cylindrical handle 16, which may for example be of synthetic plastic material molded thereon. Secured along one side of each of the carriage end portions 15 of the frame elements 13, and substantially coextensive therewith, is an L-shaped receiver member 17, a rubber or neoprene squeegee wiper blade member 18, a sponge member 19 and a flat screw bar 20. A plurality of flat-head screws 21 extend through openings in the carriage end portions 15, the receiver member 17, the wiper blade member 18 and the sponge member 19 and screw into threaded openings in the screw bar 20, thereby holding the parts in assembled relation. The sponge member 19 comprises an elongated piece of sponge material 22, preferably cellulose synthetic sponge, which is clamped at one side along its length between the sides of a U-shaped metal holder 23. A stop pin 24 is fixed to the inside of one of the handle end portions 14 to abut against the other of said handle end portions to limit mutual inward motion of the scissor-like members 13, as illustrated in Fig. 4.

In use, the cleaning implement is dipped in water and manipulated in the palm of the hand to fully close over both sides of a jalousie window louver. The implement is then drawn from one end to the other along the length of the louver, with the sponge members 19 in leading position as illustrated in Fig. 3. The sponge members 19 will thus wash over the window to loosen dirt and wet the glass in advance of the squeegee wiper blade members 18, the resilient ends of which will wipe the washed glass clean and push excess Water for the most part back into the sponge member, where it will recirculate for washing again. Periodically, the cleaning implement will be dipped into water to rinse out accumulated dirt and recharge the sponge members.

It will be apparent that the sponge members 19, as well as the wiper blade members 18, can readily be replaced when required simply by release of the screw bar 20.

While I have illustrated and described herein one form in which the invention may conveniently be embodied in practice, it is to be understood that this embodiment is presented by way of example only, and not in a limiting sense. In short, the invention includes all the modifications and embodiments coming within the scope of the following claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a glass louver cleaning implement, the combination comprising, a pair of elongated, crossed, scissor-like members, means pivotally linking said scissor-like members at their crossing points, a pair of complementary, opposed handles formed at one end of said pair of scissorlike members, the other ends of said pair of scissor-like members comprising coextensive, elongated, linear ca-rriage portions, a pair of elongated, straight, resilient squeegee blades, a pair of sponge members of substantially the same length as said squeegee blades, and means for securing one each of said squeegee blades and said sponge members in closely spaced parallel relation coextensively along one side each of said carriage portions of said scissor-like members and in the said order, longitudinal inner portions of said sponge members and squeegee wiper blades extending inwardly and beyond the inner edge zones of said carriage portions.

2. The glass louver cleaning implement as defined in claim 1 wherein said securing means comprises a screw bar disposed against the outer surface of each of said sponge members, and a plurality of screws extending through said carriage portions of said scissor-like members, said squeegee blades, said sponge members and into threaded openings in said screw bars.

3. The glass louver cleaning implement as defined in claim 2 wherein said securing means further comprises, for each scissor-like member, an L-shaped receiver memher having a first side portion disposed between said squeegee blade and said carriage portion, and'a'second side portion overlying the outer longitudinal portions of said squeegee blade and said sponge member. 7

p 4. The glass louver cleaning implement as defined in claim'l wherein the handle and carriage portions of each of said scissor-like'members are ofi-set and parallel to 10 each other.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Webb May 23, 1916 Gillet Mar. 15, 1921 Koukal Oct. 16, 1934 Greenberg Apr. 16, 1957 Rattay Sept. 15, 1959 FOREIGN PATENTS I 7 Austria 

